Stone still in awe after being set up

Since the Lincoln County Fair where Nathan Stone sold his prize hog for $8,000 and donated the money to the Jillian Young Memorial Scholarship Fund, he has received state wide recognition, including being able to hug Governor Jay Nixon and eat breakfast with the Missouri State Fair Queen.

As if the Lincoln County Fair wasn’t enough, Nathan Stone is still receiving an immense amount of support for his selflessness deeds towards the family of Jillian Young. However, it was at the Missouri State Fair when he saw exactly how far his story had reached.

“I was told we had to wear official dress for the Missouri State Fair[Governor’s Breakfast],” explained Stone. “[My advisor, Jason Vandivort] told me that everyone was going to be there, as well as a couple families who would have their children.”

Stone said when he got to the fair there were a few people, including four or five from the FFA Association, who greeted them at the door.

“I was like OK, they’re in official dress, I’m in official dress, yet we walk in and there is nobody else there,” explained Stone. “I thought that maybe we were just going to eat breakfast and kind of go from there, I didn’t really know what was going on at that point.”

According to Stone, once others showed up they began going over some of the items on the agenda. They sold a ham for $3,200, as well as a belt buckle and some other stuff. They handed out some awards, recognized a few people and finally everyone began to eat. However, he said that’s when things got interesting.

“As we’re eating, the old director for the state fair began to speak saying they had a special guest here; a person who raised over $8,000 for a very special friend’s memorial scholarship,” said Stone. “They didn’t say my name, they didn’t say her [Jillian Young] name, so I’m looking around and looking around, and I always figured my mom and dad would always tell me if something was up, well I was wrong.”

Stone said the next thing he knew, they said his name. However, it still didn’t click. Stone said he was looking around at first for this person who did this great thing, not thinking it was him.

“I mean Mr. Vandivort wouldn’t look at me, my parents wouldn’t look at me, no one would look at me, so I just thought there was another Stone kid that did what I did,” said Stone. “Then they say Nathan Stone please stand up and collect your award. I look at them and they’re still just looking at the person that’s talking and I’m still looking around waiting to see a Nathan Stone stand up.”

Finally, Vandivort looked over and told Stone it was him receiving the award and that he needed to stand up.

“I was in just shock about being set up like this, by my own parents and my advisor none the less,” said Stone. “I go over there and Dr. John Haggler, told me a lot about continuing to be a leader and to never give up on who am I. Then the Governor, Jay Nixon, told me to never give up on my dreams and when I was walking past him, he gave me a hug, which kind of surprised me because I wasn’t expecting a hug from our State Leader, but he hugged me and that’s when it clicked and the emotions of what was happening set in.”

Stone received the Excellency Award for the Department of Agriculture. He said going forward he plans on going to college for mechanics. He also said he may take a break from showing hogs, but still show steer, but then again who knows. According to his mom, she couldn’t be any prouder than she already is of her boy and is seeing the influence it is having on his little brother Nicholas. At this point the surprises for Stone’s good deed should be coming to an end, but there is no telling what the end of the year could bring for this bright young man.

“It was a great day, once I figured everything out,” said Stone. “I even got to sit next to the Missouri State Fair Queen, which was definitely cool in itself.”

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